Improvement in signal-operating devices



F. CULHAM.

Signal OperatingDevice. N0. I64,7I9" I Patentedlune22,l875.

- Q If WITNESSES W INVENTOR ATTORNEYS THE GRAPHIC CO.PHOT0 -LlTH-39 &41PARK PLAOLNY.

PATENT FRANCIS CULHAM, OF THEDFORD, CANADA,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HISRIGHT TO RICHARD A. ROUNDS, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN SIGNAL-OPERATING DEVlCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Ifatent No. 164,719, dated J une22, 1875; application filed March 13, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS CULHAM, of village of Thedford, in thecounty of Lambton and Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented a newand valuable Improvement in a Railroad-Signal; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theconstruction and operation of thesame, reference being had to theannexed drawings making a part of this specification, and to the lettersand figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a representation of a side View of my signal;and Fig. 2 is a front view, part sectional, of the same. Fig. 3 is adetail view.

This invention has relation to improvements in railroad-signals. Theobject of the invention is to devise a means whereby the engine-driverof a trainmay be informed that a switch is in proper position forallowing his train to pass, or that further progress would be dangerous,a sufficient time before he reaches the spot where a misplaced switchmight be apprehended to permit the train to be stopped, and thus avoiddanger. Tothis end the nature of the invention consists in the novelconstruction and arrangement of the parts, as will be hereafter morefully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, A designates a preferably cylindrical closelantern, having a number of funnel-shaped outlets, a 12, those a, beingof different and of stren gl y contrasting colors from those I). Thislantern has a stem 011 the vertical shaft 0, which is a continuation ofthe horizontal shaft C, having its bearings in the upper end of anelevated post, 15, upon which it has free horizontal vibration, the saidshank having a grooved pulleywheel', C, horizontally keyed thereon, asshown in Fig. 1. D indicates a chain or rope passing around the saidpulley-wheel; thence over vertically rotating and arranged pulleywheelsE, having their hearings in standards 61, erected upon the upper end ofpost 13. Chain D is rigidly secured as to its two ends in any suitablemanner to a second chain, E, which passes over a grooved. pulley-wheel,F, vertically arranged and keyed upon a horizontal shaft, Gr, forming apart of the vertical shaft 0, having its bearings in the post B. Shaft Ghas upon its outer end a weighted by Letters Patent, is

lever, B, which is rigidly keyed thereon, so

that by its natural gravitation to a vertical position it shall hold thelantern 1n position for signaling safe either up or down traok. Chain Eextends downward a certain distance, and each of its ends passes overpulley-wheels I, arranged side by side upon a horizontal staple, J,rigidly driven into post B, as shown in Fig. 1. It is then rigidlysecured as to each of its ends to two metallic rods, K K, which extendhorizontally a certain distance, when they are rigidly secured, the oneabove and the other below the fulcrum i of a vertically-vibrating lever,L, pivoted to an upright post, M. Lever H will hold the lantern inproper position, as above described, for'signaling safe both up and downtrack, and lever L, when operated by a switchman, will actuate the saidlantern through the medium of rods K K, pulleywheel I, chains E and D,and turn 1t with the lightsindicating danger up or down track, so thatlong before the switclnnans stand is reached the engineer will havenotice of danger ahead, and by blowing down brakes will be enabled tostop the train. The inner surfaces ot funnels a b are differentlycolored, funnels a being of one color, those I) of another, so thatduring the day 'they take the place of the ordinary flag, and

signal safe or danger; as the case may be. These funnels may be ofanysize, and they are in practice provided with glass covers of the desiredcolors, preferably green and red, passing through which the lights willbe of corresponding shades, and will produce a signal visible at adistance proportionate to the height of the lantern from the ground.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure The shaft Cr 0. havingkeyedthereon the lantern a, grooved wheel C, grooved pulley F, andweighted lever H, in combination with the chains D, E, and E, the rods Kand K, and actuating-lever L.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS CULHAM.

Witnesses:

JAMns Donna, T. KIRKPATRICK.

FFICE. f

